Tory said in check6 podcast that the Vulcan Kuiper launch in the summer will be certification flight for leo optimized version (for NSSL)
Launch vehicle communications for the launch of Vulcan vehicles with commercial satellites from Space Launch Complex 41 (LC-41) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.Operation Start Date: 08/08/2025Operation End Date: 02/08/2026
The Vulcan missions will be launched on a northerly trajectory from Eastern Range (ER) Launch Complex 41 (SLC-41). Two Centaur V main engine burns using Guidance Commanded Shutdown (GCS) will place the spacecraft into a Low Earth Orbit (approximately 450 km circular at 51.9 deg inclination). The first spacecraft separation event will occur at approximately 1 hour and 17 minutes after liftoff. The separation sequence (21 events) lasts about 25 minutes and 40 seconds. After the final separation event the Centaur V coasts for approximately 219 seconds before turning to the third burn attitude. The third burn (which occurs almost two hours after liftoff) will place the Centaur V onto a reentry trajectory to dispose of the upper stage in the Pacific Ocean. Impact occurs about two and a half hours after liftoff.
By popular demand, here’s some cool pics from inside the rocket factory
Do you expect to launch another Kuiper Atlas before you launch KV-01 or is KV-01 your next launch for Amazon?
Likely KV01
QuoteBusy year. A couple of USG missions after the upcoming (2nd) Kuiper Atlas. Then, we’ll swing back to a Kuiper Vulcan. And continue back and forth through the end of the year.https://twitter.com.com/torybruno/status/1931108075622351140
Busy year. A couple of USG missions after the upcoming (2nd) Kuiper Atlas. Then, we’ll swing back to a Kuiper Vulcan. And continue back and forth through the end of the year.
Quote from: GewoonLukas_ on 06/06/2025 10:02 pmQuoteBusy year. A couple of USG missions after the upcoming (2nd) Kuiper Atlas. Then, we’ll swing back to a Kuiper Vulcan. And continue back and forth through the end of the year.https://twitter.com.com/torybruno/status/1931108075622351140KA-02USSF-106USSF-87KV-01
August this flight?
ULA tempers expectations for 2025 launch volume amid transition to Vulcan-centric fleetJuly 27, 2025[...]“We’ll fly very soon,” Bruno said regarding USSF-106. Following the launch of USSF-106, ULA plans before the end of the year to launch two more national security missions and then pivot back to Amazon and start launching Kuiper satellites on Vulcan in the fall. Vulcan can launch about 45 Kuiper satellites per mission.[...]
So September or October?
This is next Vulcan launch, righ?VC-4?
Your question was answered in the post directly above yours.My guess - December.
Quote from: sstli2 on 09/29/2025 02:21 pmYour question was answered in the post directly above yours.My guess - December.Why so slow to launch this Vulcan?
December would be fast, not slow. ULA cadence this year is 8 weeks, 6.5 weeks, 6 weeks. There are less than 14 weeks from the last launch to the end of the year, so they need a significant improvement in cadence to get 3 more launches off this year. KV-01 will be at least the 3rd launch from now, as Viasat and GPS have priority. Continuing the current 6 week cadence would put KV-01 at late January: Nov 6th for Viasat, Dec 18th for GPS, and Jan 29th for Kuiper.A 5, 4, 4 week cadence for the next 3 launches would let them get it into December. Getting it into November would require 3-week cadence which seems exceptionally ambitious given history to date.
A basic calendar approximation doesn't tell the whole story.The primary hurdle right now is commissioning of the second mobile launch platform and vertical integration facility. My estimate of December is based on when I think that will be ready.Achieving that unlocks a significant improvement to cadence that the year-to-date trend would fail to recognize, including multiple launches in a single month, something that is impractical otherwise.
Quote from: sstli2 on 09/29/2025 04:56 pmA basic calendar approximation doesn't tell the whole story.The primary hurdle right now is commissioning of the second mobile launch platform and vertical integration facility. My estimate of December is based on when I think that will be ready.Achieving that unlocks a significant improvement to cadence that the year-to-date trend would fail to recognize, including multiple launches in a single month, something that is impractical otherwise.How long does it take from start of processing in the existing VIF until launch? When does the new VIF need to begin processing its first launch until that launch occurs? My guess: the very first launch will take at least a little bit of extra time. Use this to compute the latest "opening day" for VIF-A to have any effect on the 2025 statistics.You are correct: the past cannot be blindly used to predict the future. Is should not be ignored, either.
Q: When do you expect the first launch stacked out of VIF-A? Is it still October?
This year
Quote from: DanClemmensen on 09/29/2025 05:54 pmQuote from: sstli2 on 09/29/2025 04:56 pmA basic calendar approximation doesn't tell the whole story.The primary hurdle right now is commissioning of the second mobile launch platform and vertical integration facility. My estimate of December is based on when I think that will be ready.Achieving that unlocks a significant improvement to cadence that the year-to-date trend would fail to recognize, including multiple launches in a single month, something that is impractical otherwise.How long does it take from start of processing in the existing VIF until launch? When does the new VIF need to begin processing its first launch until that launch occurs? My guess: the very first launch will take at least a little bit of extra time. Use this to compute the latest "opening day" for VIF-A to have any effect on the 2025 statistics.You are correct: the past cannot be blindly used to predict the future. Is should not be ignored, either.As-of a couple weeks ago:QuoteQ: When do you expect the first launch stacked out of VIF-A? Is it still October?Quote from: Tory Bruno @torybruno.bsky.socialThis year
Kuiper update at WSBW from Ricky Freeman, President of Kuiper Govt. Services:- 3 more launches this year- End of year: 200 sats in orbit- Q1 2026: continuous coverage- End of 2026: in 26 countries- 2027: 54 countries, full global coverage- 2028: up to 100 countries and begin launching gen-2 constellation of an additional 3,200 sats
When do you expect to start stacking the first Vulcan in VIF-A?
A few weeks
2111-EX-ST-2025 [Dec 12]QuoteThis STA request is for commercial satellite launches and commercial crewed launches at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Launch Complex 41. The Atlas and Vulcan launch vehicles will be using the standard S-Band telemetry transmitter. While Atlas missions will also use the standard S-Band GPS transmitter. Trajectory data shall be provided directly to NTIA, USAF, and NASA.Operation Start Date: 02/10/2026Operation End Date: 08/10/2026For VulcanThe Vulcan missions will be launched on a North Easterly trajectory from Eastern Range (ER) Launch Complex 41 (SLC-41). Two Centaur V main engine burns using Guidance Commanded Shutdown (GCS) will place the spacecraft into a Low Earth Orbit (approximately 450 km circular at 51.9 deg inclination). The first spacecraft separation event will occur at approximately 1 hour and 10 minutes after liftoff. The separation sequence (21 events) lasts about 26 minutes. After the final separation event the Centaur V coasts for approximately 650 seconds before turning to the third burn attitude. The third burn (which occurs almost two hours after liftoff) will place the Centaur V onto a reentry trajectory to dispose of the upper stage in the Pacific Ocean. Impact occurs about two and a half hours after liftoff.
This STA request is for commercial satellite launches and commercial crewed launches at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Launch Complex 41. The Atlas and Vulcan launch vehicles will be using the standard S-Band telemetry transmitter. While Atlas missions will also use the standard S-Band GPS transmitter. Trajectory data shall be provided directly to NTIA, USAF, and NASA.Operation Start Date: 02/10/2026Operation End Date: 08/10/2026
This makes a specific reference to 21 separation events. Should we be able to extrapolate the number of satellites from that number? I would have thought each event is 3 satellites, but that would imply 63 which is too high. 1 satellite would be 21 which is too low. So is the logical interpretation here that each event is 2 satellites and Vulcan will carry 42 Amazon LEO satellites per launch?
Bruno said they are looking at late summer for the first launch of Kuiper satellites on a Vulcan rocket, which would carry 45 Kuiper satellites on board.
The Vulcan mobile launch platform (VLP-A) is at the launch pad undergoing its second phase of technical testing, marking a significant milestone as we advance toward the inaugural @Amazonleo launch.
Progress toward another inaugural heavy-lift launch, as @ulalaunch preps an all-new launch platform (VLP-A) and integration facility (VIF-A) dedicated to Leo missions on Vulcan. Payload for LV-01 is fully stacked ahead of launch, and processing is already underway for LV-02.
Vulcan, Atlas V, New Glenn, and Ariane 6 delays caused ~12 months of delay to the deployment schedule
Given:- ULA have yet to stack and launch a Vulcan in under a month- We have not heard an indication of the commencement of stacking- This is the inaugural launch of a new configuration (VC6) with a new MLPIt seems to me February is out of the question, and possibly early March as well. I think you have to go with a NET of mid March.
QuoteVulcan, Atlas V, New Glenn, and Ariane 6 delays caused ~12 months of delay to the deployment schedule This smells of Amazon trying to put the blame on the launchers and really surprising that they tried to lump Atlas in there, assuming that is not a typo on AndrewM's part since Atlas V was flying and available waiting for Amazon to get enough satellites built to fly in 2024. The only real delays with Atlas have been minor technical, weather, and range availability ones, which are typical for any rocket. Had there been enough satellites, all eight Atlas earmarked for Kuiper/Leo could have been flown off by now and they would have nearly 300 satellites in orbit.
For example, ULA’s Atlas V experienced unexpected anomalies and delays caused by issues with its vehicle fairings and solid rocket boosters. The Atlas V delays were particularly unexpected, given that Atlas rockets had a 100% success rate through years of successful missions—a heritage of reliability that drove Amazon Leo’s decision to buy all nine of the remaining commercially available Atlas V launch vehicles. After overcoming these technical issues, efforts to reschedule faced additional delays due to weather and range issues—ultimately pushing the planned 2024 launch of Amazon Leo’s initial production satellites into April 2025.
